Senior Safety Grant
About the Senior Safety Grant
The Senior Safety Grant is a grant of up to $20,000 a year to help fund a Seniors' Safety Program.
Programs typically need more than this to run successfully. Therefore, you must demonstrate community
in-cash or in-kind support in your application.
The grant contributes to the enhancement of existing programs and the expansion of programs to areas
of Nova Scotia where programs do not currently exist.
Grant money is made available as a joint initiative of the Nova Scotia departments of Seniors and
Justice. The grant demonstrates government's commitment to seniors' safety and provides a costeffective
approach to crime prevention and community capacity building. The grant also supports the
Nova Scotia Elder Abuse and Positive Aging strategies and actions to prevent and reduce crime.
Non-profit organizations may reapply each year, when the funding call is open.
Our definition of a Seniors' Safety Program
A Seniors' Safety Program is a community-based program that is operated and managed by a nonprofit
organization. It addresses the safety concerns of seniors by
- promoting education and awareness about senior abuse, crime prevention, and safety and health issues
- enhancing communication between seniors and the police
- providing information, educational sessions, and referral services to seniors
- offering direct contact with seniors through the seniors' safety coordinator
The day-to-day operation of the program is the job of the seniors' safety coordinator—usually a paid staff
person, but sometimes a volunteer. The coordinator works in close partnership with local police agencies
and a large network of local, provincial, and federal partnering agencies. Typically, services are offered to
seniors throughout a county—in their own homes and at other locations within the community.
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Does your program match our priorities?
We are most likely to fund programs that match our five priorities:
- Seniors informed and led - A diverse group of seniors are meaningfully involved in the development
and planning of the program.
- Direct service delivery to seniors - The program focuses on providing services directly to seniors—in
their own homes, through group presentations and workshops, etc.
- Links to the strategies - The program includes activities that are focused on senior abuse awareness,
prevention, and intervention; crime prevention; and health and wellness.
- Intergenerational - The program reduces ageism by offering opportunities for the generations to learn
from each other and celebrate their unique perspectives.
- Diversity - The program shows evidence that the diversity of seniors in the program's area has been
considered and has influenced the services offered.
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Does your program fit our vision for future program development?
Programs receiving the Senior Safety Grant are expected to consist of the following six components
within a reasonable time frame. Any exceptions will be at the discretion of the Department of Seniors.
- a full-time paid program coordinator
- a well-developed and diverse board of directors or advisory committee who are familiar with seniors'
safety issues and whose membership includes local seniors
- strong and clearly outlined partnerships with local police agencies—RCMP; town, municipal, or city
police departments
- a menu of services and programs that provide direct service delivery to seniors and have been
developed in consultation with a diverse group of local seniors, including each of the following:
- senior abuse awareness, prevention, and intervention
- crime prevention activities (including home and personal safety for seniors)
- referrals from local police, community members, and other agencies for one-on-one services to seniors.
- significant support, both in-cash and in-kind, from local governments, police agencies, organizations,
and businesses that matches or exceeds the amount requested from the Senior Safety Grant
- services offered to a significant geographic area—typically, a county
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Who can apply
Non-profit community-based organizations that
- are registered with the Registry of Joint Stocks
- have a board of directors or advisory group made up of local seniors and representatives from
local police agencies, healthcare, municipalities, and seniors organizations
- offer a program that meets our definition of a Seniors' Safety Program
- complete the Application and Contract
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What the grant may be used for
- salary for a seniors' safety coordinator only (including MERC and Benefits)
- professional development for a seniors' safety coordinator only (up to $800)
- facility rental
- office expenses
- travel expenses (per km rate only)
- materials and supplies
- honoraria
- translation services
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What the grant may NOT be used for
- capital expenses, such as construction and renovation
- travel outside of Nova Scotia
- expenses incurred before the grant was approved
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Expectations of successful applicants
Grant recipients must
- complete the activities outlined in their application
- demonstrate sound fiscal management—that is, maintain acceptable accounting records, including
maintaining receipts/proof of all expenditures
- submit mid-year and year-end statements of expenditures
- submit an interim and final report on program activities
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Senior Safety Grant Applications now closed.
Guidelines, Application and Assessment Tool for Applicants
Senior Safety Grant Guidelines for Applicants
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Senior Safety Grant Application and Contract
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If you want to see how your application will be assessed, please see the following document:
Review Committee's Assessment Tool
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